Posts by Splodger

Space Commanders lock missiles on Elite's Frontier Devs

Re: If I'd wanted a connected game I'd play Eve

"Second ships are purchased with in games credits, and in no way can be purchased via real world money..."

No. In-game credits for real-life money is incoming. It's even in the KS FAQ:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1461411552/elite-dangerous#project_faq_42659

"We will probably allow the supplemental purchase of Credits with real money, for those who want to accelerate their progress through the game.

We do plan to charge for additional updates, to be available sometime after the original release. These will offer additional content, features and gameplay."

Frustration with Elite:Dangerous boils over into 'Refund Quest'

Re: Arguing over nothing

Genuinely: Good for you!

How about those that purchased when 'offline' was promised and it was why they bought in. Then it was pulled due to a 'creative decision' (after what, 2 years of development, 4 weeks before launch), and the developer kept the money. Then refused (sorry, dealt with them on a 'case-by-case' basis) refunds.

You do realise that consumer protection laws exist, right?

Deprivation Britain: 1930s all over again? Codswallop!

Re: hay man

What cuts?

THERE HAVE BEEN *NO* CUTS.

Public spending (and borrowing) are increasing nicely/terrifyingly. Check out our national debt and prepare to be extraordinarily worried.

RIP Ralph Baer: Father of the games console dies aged 92

Had an early, creaky Grandstand console as a lad ( shared with my still arch-enemy twin brother) , complete with paddle controllers and a light gun.

Thank you Mr Baer, and RIP.

The game is over.

Space Commanders rebel as Elite:Dangerous kills offline mode

Re: I want it

(One of) the main problems is that the game is nowhere near 'release ready'.

For all of the development cycle (until now, just before release) there was going to be an extended 'gamma' testing phase.

"It'll be ready when it's ready", "No repeat of FFE/Gametek debacle", "Look at what's in the DDF for what's in the game".

Yeah, right.

Massive disappointment.

Russia: SEXY LIZARDS which landed FROM SPACE are all DEAD

Pome.

So farewell then.

Sticky footed cosmo-reptiloids.

Lost and found in the inky black.

Should have had a jumper on your back.

E.J. Throbb. (13½)

Windows 7 settles as Windows XP use finally starts to slip … a bit

Re: Why is Win 8 and Win 8.1 seperated?

I'm on Win 8.0, and that's where it's staying.

No app crap, or any other tiley charmey rubbish. Just security updates thankyouverymuch.

The only reason that Win 8+ is creeping up at all is because it's almost impossible for your average punter to purchase a Win 7 box/laptop.

Women-only town seeks men

<Marvin voice>

Backward jungle hell-hole populated by in-bred, desperate screechy women?

...Sounds ghastly.

</Marvin voice>

Had just one of those in my life in the past, can't see much appeal in a whole town full.

Cutting cancer rates: Data, models and a happy ending?

Also popped into the comments to add my thanks for a genuinely interesting article.

Microsoft: We plan to CLEAN UP this here Windows Store town

Re: Hello pot, this is kettle...

Um, WTF does Windows need an 'app store' anyway? Are people so brainwashed?

All traces and links to the 'app store' was one of the first things that was scrubbed from my Win 8 box (hence still Win 8.0), right after installing classic shell.

Waiting gamer slams no-show show: E3 – was that it?

Re: Mostly Harmless

Elite:Dangerous has currently just entered Beta, is shaping up to be fairly awesome, and will be released commercially before the end of this year.

An entire scientifically accurate galaxy simulated and explorable? Fly to any dot in the sky you like? Terrific flight models and in-depth gameplay? Grown-up conflicting power-blocs, and some hostile aliens 'perhaps' waiting for humanity out in the inky blackness? Anti-griefer mechanisms baked in?

Yes please.

The first expansion after release will provide seamless planetary landings on scientifically accurate as possible environments plus wildlife, oceans, etc and will be at least as impressive as the initial release.

Oh, and it's widely been reported as the best Oculus Rift experience.

Can't believe Mike Plant didn't check it out.

Multiplayer Elite to debut on May 30th

Re: you approach a station..

The game is currently still in Alpha, and there will certainly be robust in game measures to stop all that: griefers will be *severely* punished.

Would just like to correct the main article: multiplayer has been in the game for months, it's just the next (Beta) phase that's landing on the 30th May.

With a 100 billion star systems, it's already looking epic, it's the first game I've been even remotely anticipating for a decade or more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE8B4KptyVI

Firefox, is that you? Version 29 looks rather like a certain shiny rival

Hate it

Absolutely hate it!

Thank goodness for 'Classic Theme Restorer' and 'Hide Caption Titlebar Plus' add-ons.

Current Moz FF feedback graph:

https://input.mozilla.org/en-GB/

Leave your own feedback here:

https://input.mozilla.org/en-GB/feedback

Or possibly leave a comment on the blog of the person responsible:

http://www.donotlick.com/firefox-and-flux-a-new-beautiful-browser-is-coming/

Windows 8.1 Update: Throws desktop drones a bone but still as TOUCHY as ever

Re: Windows 8 was built for one reason only

Well as someone still on Win8 (not 8.1), using classic shell, has deleted all the MS noddy apps, refuses to sign up for the app store experience and hates 'charms', is there a compelling reason to get this update?

Virtual-reality Dev Kit 2 game goggles by Oculus – now with less vomit!

Re: Crystal cove

Yes, it has the IR LEDs, they are under the outer shell which is now made of IR transparent plastic, apparently to protect the LEDs as much as for aesthetic reasons.

The final consumer version of the Rift has also been confirmed by Palmer Luckey (OculusVR founder) as having a higher resolution than 1080 in the following Engadget interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMMvF05ZT70

Virtual reality? Two can play THAT GAME, says Sony: New headset revealed for the PS4

Not an Oculus beater

Trouble is, it's PS4 only, and they will have to turn detail/resolution/texture/physics down to get 60fps in stereo on that platform. "Different optimisations" I think Sony euphamistically referred to what they'd be doing graphics wise.

The LCD screen will cause problems - Oculus went for OLED which made a massive difference.

Sony's effort looks technically slightly better than the Oculus DK1, about on a par with their HD model with added tracking. It's not as technically good as the Crystal Cove prototype which OVR has taken as a bare minimum - the spec for the consumer version is expected to be even higher.

Oculus have their event later today at GDC (18:00 UK time).

Here's Sony's press release for their VR headset along with the tech details:

http://scei.co.jp/corporate/release/140319_e.html

Bill Gates-backed SOLAR POO RAYGUN COMMODE unveiled

Re: What a sh!t article

Engineering to bridge: Dump the into the reactor core you say?

Finally! Some actual, novel tech: Apple patent to revive geriatric gear

It's only a matter of time...

"Just a moment....Just a moment.

I've just picked up a fault in the AE-35 Unit.

Its going to go 100 percent failure within 72 hours."

Aargh! My EYEBALLS are MELLLTING! Curse this DEVIL LAPTOP

Re: Almost news

You can get your screen to automatically change colour temperature according to the time of day - get rid of the blue glow in the evening. Great FREE and lightweight little background prog, an a lot easier on the old eyeballs:

You can get it here: F.lux

'They' should build it into tellies too.

Booze and bacon sarnies: A recipe for immortality?

I salute El Reg's bleeding-edge boffinry!

However, your vital nutri/life-enhancing research needs to move out of the shed. I suggest a kickstarter to fund a Large Hadron Collider Headache Provider - an epic pub crawl to discover the true nature of the elementary beer particle - the Glugs Boozon.

Begin immediately, I say!

SCRAP the TELLY TAX? Ancient BBC Time Lords mull Beeb's future

Re: Just a News Operation

The BBC don't really do "news" - they instead do "The BBC News".

That is, everything is looked at through a left-leaning opinionated Guardianista prism. Drives me nuts these days.

The BBC is also chock full of adverts - for their own high production value dross of course, not washing powder.

Get rid of it all. Except 6 Music.

This tool demands access to YOUR ENTIRE DIGITAL LIFE. Is it from GCHQ? No - it's by IKEA

Surely this is all against the Data Protection Act?

I thought that companies were only allowed to collect and store relevant data.

BBC Trust: 'LA LA LA I'M NOT LISTENING' to this DMI mega-tech FAIL

You're quite right of course, but if you'd been the person commissioning the thing or responsible for the disastrous planning/purchase/implementation or providing project oversight or one of the Trust members, then you should lose your big fat salary + expenses. And no platinum handshake either.

Good old warm, fuzzy, snuggly "Aunty" Beeb. My backside.

It's amazing just how profligate you can be when you're spaffing Somebody Else's Money, and there's no danger of accountability or consequences.

(See also NHS, civil service, etc.)

Windows 8.1 update 'screenshots' leak: Metro apps popped into classic desktop taskbar

Re: 8.1

What a rigmarole!

Utterly mental.

Re: Serial...

The upcoming Win8 update/Win9:

Will it still have MS Skydrive cloudy bollocks baked in to the OS?

Will it still have utterly shit wifi network management?

Will it still call programs "apps"? (I'm not a teenager FFS!)

Will it still attempt to force me to have MS accounts & sign up for the ridiculous "app store"?

Will it in fact still have the ridiculous "app store"?

Will it still only have a help function if connected to the internet?

Will it still force people to hunt down settings options? (Clue: put them ALL in "Settings"!)

Will it still have swipes and fecking wanky "charms"?

Will it still refuse to work with peripherals that worked perfectly with Win7?

Will it still be intrusive, annoying and goddamn infuriating?

Etc.

Fix all that and the rest, otherwise no. Thanks, but no.

Panasonic will go Firefox OS for TVs

If we absolutely MUST have this "smart" TV stuff pushed at us, could manufacturers please, please please allow us to customise the experience properly?

Just something like a simple desktop, no built in ads or spyware.

And a decent EPG (Humax stylee?)

That is all.

Optical Express 'ruined my life' attack site wins Nominet takedown battle

Re: I married an eye surgeon

One has to enquire: if your spouse thinks it's such a bad idea, why are they on the books of such an outfit?

Intel ditches McAfee brand: 'THANK GOD' shouts McAfee the man

Not used Norton in a bazillion years - memories aren't good, but McAfee (not the man, the shit software) must at least be a contender for the very worst ubiquitous software award.

I suspect the real reason for the name change is that most people agree, and Intel are simply unable to shift enough disks of the crapola.

TomTom GO 6000 satnav chews on smarties and tablets

How Much????!!!

I used to like TomTom stuff, but you can get a cheap 7inch tablet that'll do more for way less.

Buy the TomTom program for it if you like (sorry, hate the term "app").

Can't see them in the hardware business much longer.

Snowden latest: NSA stalks the human race using Google, ad cookies

Re: A better useful Firefox "extention" [sic]

Ghostery

AdblockPlus

Better Privacy

Self Destructing Cookies

HTTPS Everywhere

Never save passwords

Reject third party cookies

Always clear cookies on exit

Not enough though, install Lightbeam add-on from Mozilla, and use your browser for a while.

You will be alarmed at the amount of tracking that occurs.

Microsoft 'cautiously optimistic' about Christmas sales

Re: A casual Observation

I can't help feeling that if Currys/PC World and the rest want to shift (lots) more laptops/PCs then they should stick large signs up all over the place stating that you can have Windows 7 on the box you're purchasing instead of bloody Windows 8.x if you want.

Think unpatched Win XP hole's not a big deal? Hope you trust your local users

Re: Well, Well, Well

Hey, I've looked again at Sumatra, and you can now change the vile lurid yellow background colour to whatever you want.

New PDF reader installed.

Berners-Lee: 'Growing tide of surveillance' is destroying the internet

Don't worry, electrical appliance companies are getting on board with the whole spying thing (e.g. LG).

Together they'll have us covered 100% very shortly.

Google rolls out fibre to 3 million Ugandans: Ni marungi*, nyan cat

<phonejacker>

"Hello sir, I am calling you from your bank..."

"Er,... whose bank?"

"Your bank."

</phonejacker>

Sony patents LASER-FIRING Wi-Fi SMARTWIG with sideburn buttons

Techno-Toupée

i-Wig

Weaponised Cyber-Rug

Cannot believe a patent was granted for this btw.

LG: You can stop hiding from your scary SPY TELLY quite soon now

Re: #$%%$%@

Have the BBC picked up on this?

Should have checked...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25042563

Can't wait for "the internet of things" - every bloody thing everywhere will be monitoring you.

Re: Too late....

So will LG face prosecution under data protection legislation?

As an aside, how do people feel about having TVs with web cam/microphone integration, or owning an Xbox One with its quietly observing kinect now?

Investors on Microsoft: What, Ballmer, leaving? Hand me my wallet

MS/Windows is at a turning point:

It's either going forward, and is going to be a serious OS or,

It's MS's naked attempt to lock people in to bitch/gimp business model.

Win8, XboxOne, Office 365, etc.

You decide.

Oculus: 'Terrifying' virtual reality gaming 'will change the world', WE SWEAR IT

Re: Yes, it will.

Haven't downvoted you, but...

The consumer OR will be at least 1920x1080 = 2073600 pixels, so over three times the pixels of the VR920s.

Head tracking will be 6dof rather than 3dof. And MUCH more accurate.

FOV will be at least 90° (>110° diagonal)rather than the VR920s 32° (like looking through a cardboard tube?)

Latency will be MUCH lower: well under 20ms.

Cheap and robust, developer excitement and support.

So not much better than the VR920 really...

Totally happy for them to wait until they've nailed it 100%.

What's another year after this long waiting for VR?

Google goes looking for more GLASSHOLES

Interesting thumbs down... perhaps El Reg's own Glasshole?

Anyway, weirdy beardy Woz:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system/posts/660648

Steve Wozniak may (rightly) rubbish Googly Glass, but he is a backer of VR/AR upstarts CastAR.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/technicalillusions/castar-the-most-versatile-ar-and-vr-system

Only a day left on their kickstarter.

How to relieve Microsoft's Surface RT piles problem

Exactly.

MS will if anything INCREASE pressure to adopt Win8 and its ilk.

For example, I believe the next DirectX will be a Win8.1 and Xbox One exclusive.

I for one will resist any attempt to be locked in to their walled-up vision.

Japan set to create DARPA-style agency for military tech

Japanese defence forces will in the future consist of laser-equipped Power Rangers, a smattering of Transformers and a Mecha-Streisand.

Can't wait!

Look at how many ways we ruin your life, Redmond boasts

Those stats were tragic.

Am I alone in seeing work as a necessary evil?

Really only something to do until that big lottery win/find something better to do?

I fully understand that some people love their jobs, and they may be excluded from the above.

Nookie becomes, um, a virtual reality for Oculus Rift gadget gamers

Re: Haptic?

Wait for the multiplayer expansion.

Norks EXECUTE 80 for watching DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

Re: I read this and I think

@DougS:

You didn't disagree though...

Re: I read this and I think

North Korea, USSR, East Germany, China, etc.

What a coincidence: all rather of the left persuasion.

Norks unlikely to beat the USA in the death-ray race

Boeing CHAMP missile

http://www.businessinsider.com/beoings-counter-electronics-high-power-microwave-advanced-missile-project-2012-10?0=defense

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-electronics_High_Power_Microwave_Advanced_Missile_Project

'Weird' OBJECT, PROPELLED by its OWN JETS, spotted beyond Mars orbit by Hubble

Re: Monster mash

The chances of anything coming from (the vicinity of) Mars are a million to one....

...But still, They come!

UUUULAAAAH!